Aberfeldy

Aberfeldy is a town in Highland Perthshire, Scotland, located on the River Tay, and close to Loch Tay and Kenmore. Robert Burns featured the town of Aberfeldy in his poem, The Birks of Aberfeldy, and it is mentioned in the traditional, and beautiful, Loch Tay Boat Song.

Aft hae I rov'd by Bonnie Doon, To see the rose and woodbine twine: And ilka bird sang o' its luve, And fondly sae did I o' mine. Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose, Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree! And my fause luver staw my rose, But ah! he left the thorn wi' me.

Chorus: Come along, come along, Let us foot it out together, Come along, come along, Be it fair or stormy weather, With the hills of home before us, And the purple of the heather, Let us sing in happy chorus, Come along, come along.

O gaily sings the lark, And the sky's all awake, With the promise of the day For the road we gladly take; So it's heel and toe and forward, Bidding farewell to the town, For the welcome that awaits us Ere the sun goes down.

Chorus

It's the call of sea and shore It's the tang of bog and peat, And the scent of brier and myrtle That puts magic in our feet; So it's on we go rejoicing, Over bracken, over stile, And it's soon we will be tramping Out the last long mile.

A far croonin' is pullin' me away As take I wi' my cromak to the road. The far Coolins are puttin' love on me, As step I wi' the sunlight for my load.

Chorus: Sure, by Tummel and Loch Rannoch And Lochaber I will go, By heather tracks wi' heaven in their wiles; If it's thinkin' in your inner heart Braggart's in my step, You've never smelt the tangle o' the Isles. Oh, the far Coolins are puttin' love on me, As step I wi' my cromak to the Isles.

It's by 'Sheil water the track is to the west, By Aillort and by Morar to the sea, The cool cresses I am thinkin' o' for pluck, And bracken for a wink on Mother's knee.

It's the blue Islands are pullin' me away, Their laughter puts the leap upon the lame, The blue Islands from the Skerries to the Lews, Wi' heather honey taste upon each name.